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Jimmy Page Wiring Mod

RMosack

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2001
Messages
49
I finally got my Standard modded to the Jimmy Page model schematic with SD '59 pickups.

First off, I was worried that the '59s wouldn't split well. I've heard/read that traditional output PAF-style pickups do not split well. It looks like I worried for nothing. The '59s split just fine. I think that the characteristics of a Les Paul (mahogany, maple, rosewood, short scale, set neck, TOM bridge, etc. ) overcome any potentially thin sound. On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend splitting a '59 (or similar) in a Strat type of guitar.

Secondly, there is the expected drop-off in volume for some of the selections - namely single coils and out-of-phase. I don't view htis as a problem because: one, sometimes a little less output is desired; and two, the series selection tends to provide a boost that'w quite useful for those other selections.

Third, I can'tbelieve that I didn't do this sooner. For what you get, it's a relatively cheap modification. Besides, it yields many additional tones and does not change the appearance of your cherished Les Paul.

Finally, I do have a few quibbles. Due to the nature of the wiring, there are definitely selections that are neither humbucking nor hum-cancelling. It's an expected drawback, but still a bit of a shock in a Les Paul - but no big deal really. Also, I need to find out if my local tech made a mistake or if there is an oddity in the wiring. For some odd reason, I can not completely cut the volume in some selections. I don't know if it's weird bleed-through or what. The strangest thing is that in the most normal Les Paul settings - like neck humbucker alone or bridge humbucker alone - a volume of "0" does not completely cut the output. It ends up sounding like the volumes are left on "2" or "3". The only way to completely cut the volume is to turn both volumes off. To me, this should not be the case if you only have one pickup selected.

Anyway, other than the possible volume issue, it's a pretty cool modification.
 

RMosack

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2001
Messages
49
Question ???

By the way, does anyone know enough about the JP mod to say whether or not the volume issue I described is normal. If not, I'll probably need to have the wiring checked out.

Thanks
 

Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
I don't how many options the JP mod has, but when I wired two of my LP's with Dual sound humbuckers, the instructions with the pickups explain the drop of volume and non-hum cancelleing modes. There is one option that gives the single like sound with hum cancelling and no significant loss of volume. All you need are those two positions. In the old days it was common to re-wire only the bridge pickup. Mine have both.

The dimarzio website had wiring charts for a while...and GP magazine had a good article about it a few years back.
 

crunch

New member
Joined
Jan 18, 2002
Messages
43
Hey RM...On my JP LP when rhythm or treble is selected the volume pot will shut off the pup volume completely. Sounds to me like you've got a "modified" JP mod.

When the selector switch is in the midddle, leave the rhythm volume pot on full and the treble volume pot functions as a master volume.

There are 21 different switching options...some of them sound very similar, some are kind of nasaly and I think have limited use. I had the spec sheet but it was too damn confusing to try to remember things like...RT & TV push pull up is the rhythm pup treble tap (screw coil on) series out of phase...etc. etc.

Took me awhile to get used to all these tone options but I've settled into a few favorite selections and I like the master volume feature.

Oh yea, after I installed a set of Alnico II Pro's, it was easy to dial in JP tones.
 

GreatWhiteNorth

New member
Joined
Aug 6, 2001
Messages
107
I just put a Pearly Gates in the bridge position of my Jimmy Page, and a Jazz in the neck.

One thing I've noticed is that, with lower output pickups, the volume drop is more noticeable when you split the coils or put them out of phase. With the stock ceramic magnet pickups, the volume didn't seem to change as much.

I don't mind, however. The SD pickups give a much warmer tone, without the harshness of the ceramic magnets. I would rather have the drop in volume than that nasty sound!

And, even though I wasn't trying to 'get' Jimmy's sound, the Pearly Gates sure sounds a lot closer to his tone than the 500T ever could.

Regards,

GreatWhiteNorth
 

RMosack

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2001
Messages
49
Help!

Does anyone know for sure if the JP schematic shown on guitarelectronics.com is correct? I get the sinking feeling that I may have to start over. Besides, I think the tech. made a mistake anyway since I can't totally cut an individual pickups volume in normal positions like bridge only or neck only. I have to have both volumes at zero to cut volume. I know this should not be the case.

More importantly, I would really like to get feedback on the validity of the guitarelectronics.com diagram.
 

Deaf-Eddie

New member
Joined
Oct 10, 2001
Messages
55
Hey, I can't get the page with their diagram to load - maybe they pulled it 'cuz it was flawed..????

Try this site for another example:

http://www.blueguitar.org/schems.htm#MiscFX

They have a file there called jp_lp.gif that might be the real deal...

There are also files called superck1.pdf and superck2.pdf that are the Schector Superrock harnesses - very close to the JP set up, and the one I describe below...

Personally, I think if I were gonna do the four push-pulls, I would prefer to have it set up like this:

SWITCH ONE: parallel or series on the bridge pup -
(series is regular humbucker wired, parallel is a rather Fender-y tone, but still humbucking);
SWITCH TWO: Coil shunt on the neck pup;
SWITCH THREE: phase reverse;
SWITCH FOUR: series the pups together.

I BELIEVE that's ALMOST the JP set up - except that from EXPERIENCE I prefer the tone of the bridge pup paralleled, and the neck pup coil-shunted. I have an EXTREMELY mod-ed LP Custom on which I have had most of these tones and more - and I hesitate to post the link for fear of reprisals (it's really THRASHED, as the youngsters say), but here goes:

http://us.geocities.com/deaf_eddie/lp.html

Right now it will series/parallel the bridge pup, coil shunt ANY pup, and phase reverse the bridge and/or the middle pup...

.. and I have a Parts-O-Caster Thinline Tele with the tone I haven't tried in the LP, which is series-out-of-phase. That wiring option kicks serious boootie, when you run yer out-of-phase series, instead of the thin and wimpy parallel out-of-phase we all used to use (I'm an OLD man), 'way back when I was a lad. I'm (someday!) going to rewire the ol' gal and patch all the toggle holes... and use the four push-pull setup I described above.

Any help?
 

RMosack

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2001
Messages
49
Diagram Wrong

I got Gibson to send me their exact diagram. That settles it. The diagram on guitarelectronics.com is WRONG! The blueguitar.org diagram is also incorrect. Now that I have the exact schematic, I need to fnd a local shop willing to do the wiring. The local guys were willing to follow the pictoral guitarlectronics.com diagram, but they're a little afraid of the Gibson electrical schematic.
 

Deaf-Eddie

New member
Joined
Oct 10, 2001
Messages
55
Hey, RMosack, I are a San Diego dude also...

IF you can't get Moze Guitars in La Mesa to do this mod for ya, hit my webpage, get my e-mail address, and we'll talk. I rewire axes for all my pals, now as a weekend hobby...
 

Ian Anderson

New member
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Messages
1,331
Hey RMosack...

Will you email the Gibson wiring diagram to me? - I'd like to have a peek!!!

Also, you could email it to the guy on BlueGuitar and he could post it so we could all benefit.


:!
 

nicholas

Prince of Darkburst
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
1,648
RM, I didn't do the full on JP mod in my custom, but I push/pulled the volume knobs only. I can split either pup to inside single coil, and mix and match from there. Anyways, I have the same problem as you. The volume backed all the way down I still have some volume peeping out. You are not alone
 

RMosack

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2001
Messages
49
Deaf-Eddie - Thanks for the suggestions. I have sent you an email.

Ian Anderson - I forwarded a couple of emails that I got from the folks at Gibson.

Nicholas - I thought of only the hum-to-single mod, but decided that the magic in the Page wiring is in all of the other sounds. Therefore, go for it! I have no idea why you have the same volume "peeping out" problem. I've done a few simple mods on Teles I've built. This included the 4-way switch for adding the series position to one tele and the whole 5-way switching (bridge alone, bridge and neck split, neck split, bridge and neck humbucker and neck humbucker alone) for a Fat Tele clone. I had no volume problems with either of these guitars.
 

68LP

Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2002
Messages
160
I had it done to some Antiquities about a month ago. I can turn the volume down to zero without bleed. I love it. Pull up the bridge volume knob, bridge pickup selected, sounds kind of Tele-ish, pull up the bridge tone and put the pickup selector in the middle, sounds a bit thin and nasaly, but I like it. Pull up the bridge tone and neck volume, switch to neck pickup, sounds kind of stratty.
This is a wicked mod!!
 

Sean

Goldie's Man in London
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
2,021
That stuff would be a lot more useful if push-push pots were used.

I used to have a Strat with humbuckers in the bridge and neck, and three push-pull pots, all wired to give a shedload of options. I thought it was great. For about a week. I ended up using about four of the options, I found that all the others were pretty useless.

I'd suggest before you go launching into this mod, or spending $ on getting someone to do it for you, that you try spend some time with a LP that already has this conversion.
 
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